Source: Daily_Mail
Double your money - West Ham warn Gold and Sullivan to forget cut-price bid
West Ham United's leading shareholder CB Holding insist they will notbe held to ransom by potential investors chasing a cut-price deal.[LNB]Former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan have tableda £50million takeover bid, which is understood to be around half theclub's own valuation.[LNB]Gold and Sullivan are reportedly ready to provide managerGianfranco Zola with a £20million January transfer fund to improve asquad currently struggling to escape the Barclays Premier Leaguerelegation zone.[LNB] Falling down: West Ham's Mark Noble (left) takes a kick from Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole during a 1-1 draw at the weekend[LNB]CB Holding have told the West Ham board they are in talks with anumber of interested parties - but stressed they are under no pressureto rush into any deal.[LNB]The investment bank's financial position was strengthened onDecember 11 when the District Court of Reykjavik granted their parentcompany Straumur Bank a moratorium on their debts until September.[LNB]Difficult job: Gianfranco Zola[LNB]In a club statement, West Ham said: "Our shareholder CB Holdinghas made it clear it would like to find new owners for the club in thenext three years and that is still the case.[LNB]"In recent months we have had a number of approaches from parties interested in investing in West Ham United.[LNB]"The club have held a number of discussions with those parties and talks are still ongoing.[LNB]"CB Holding is not under pressure to conclude an agreement in theimmediate future, but the club will keep supporters informed of anydevelopments when appropriate."[LNB]West Ham's current financial predicament has led to suggestions that England quartet Rob Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole may have to be sold in the transfer window.[LNB]Zola is desperate to keep that spine of his squad together but theItalian does not know what January will bring - and he admits a finaldecision may ultimately be out of his hands.[LNB]"You know, we want to keep the best players. I don't know what's going to happen next month," said Zola. "The only thing I know for sure is that before then we have threegames coming up that are very, very important and I want to focus onthem. That's the main thing, the rest is out of my control."[LNB]The Hammers tackle Portsmouth, the only side below them in theleague, on Boxing Day followed by high-flying Tottenham on December 28and Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 3. [LNB][LNB]Bargain hunters: David Sullivan and David Gold (front) want to buy West Ham[LNB]West Ham may be in 19th place but they head into the Portsmouth game on the back of a 1-1 home draw with league leaders Chelsea.[LNB]"The first step is get through this game on Saturday which is vitaland let's do it all together and then we'll see what happens (inJanuary)," Zola added.[LNB]"I can only focus on the game and make sure everything goes wellon the pitch. If we keep the same spirit we have against Chelsea Ithink we are going to go through everything, that is my personalbelief."[LNB]Defender Danny Gabbidon will miss the Portsmouth game with ahamstring injury but Zola has midfielder Valon Behrami back incontention.[LNB] TRANSFER WINDOW GUIDE: The lowdown on every club as Manchester United throw the January window open with £9m bid for star Benfica winger Angel Di Maria Struggling West Ham to make January move for Rangers star Nacho NovoLEO'S LONDON: Harry's handling of Christmas bash has been spot onA trophy for Wenger, a fit player for Moyes, waterwings for Martinez, no Man Ure for Rafa and beach balls for Bruce - the Premier League Christmas wishlistWEST HAM UNITED FC
